WNEG-TV

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NORTHEAST GEORGIA - About 18 million people in the United States suffer from a condition called obstructive sleep apnea. One treatment option is gaining popularity.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea include snoring, fatigue and gasping for air during sleep. It's caused when the airway is blocked and is usually treated with a CPAP machine, which stands for "continuous positive airway pressure". The machine blows air down your airway, keeping it obstruction-free and works with a variety of masks. But for some, they are just not comfortable.

Now some are turning to an oral appliance.

According to Dr. Mayoor Patel of Fusion Sleep, "So the device works by bringing the lower jaw forward, and by doing so, it brings the tongue along with it, so when you sleep at night, the jaw does not fall back, nor does the tongue, allowing you to breathe comfortably. According to the guidelines, cpap is the gold standard of care. it's very effective in providing therapy. the only problem with the cpap is compliance."

A physician can help you decide if the appliance is right for you.